Politics
AL leaders even won’t get time to carry hurricane lamps, flee through back door: Fakhrul
Calling upon his party colleagues to roar on the streets protesting the killing of a Swechchasebak Dal leader in police firing, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday warned that the Awami League leaders will not even get time to flee through the back door.
“They (govt) have talked about giving hurricane lamps in the hands of BNP leaders. But the time has come for you to hold the hurricane lamps in your hands. Even, you won’t get time to hold the hurricane lamps and flee through the back door,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka could not flee the country while its president Gotabaya Rajapaksa escaped to the Maldives. “The dictators want to flee but people don’t let them do so. You should keep it in mind.”
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the killing of Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim in police firing in Bhola.
Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina slammed BNP for staging protests carrying the hurricane lamp against the government's power-saving measures.
"BNP leaders are holding demonstrations with hurricane lamps. Let's give them hurricane lamps to carry, and show them the door," she said.
Fakhrul alleged that the Awami League government has turned Bangladesh into a cremation ground over the last 15 years through its ‘repression’ and ‘misrule’.
Read:BNP holds talks with People's League, Jatiya Dal to wage greater movement
“You have also turned Bangladesh into a fascist and failed state. Where’s your success? Showing Metrorail and the Padma Bridge they highlight their all success. But 42%of people have gone below the poverty line. Many of our people now can’t eat two meals a day,” he observed.
The BNP leader alleged that the government has ruined the educational institutions, the health sector and the economy. “So, we can’t give them (AL) more time to hang onto power. The fall of Hasina's government is now our one-point demand.”
He called upon the BNP leaders and activists to get ready for realising their one-point demand and establish a pro-people government through a credible election under a neutral government.
Fakhrul said their party’s all associate bodies will start staging demonstrations gradually from Thursday in protest against the killing of Abdur Rahim.
Later, he said their party will work out their next course of action at a meeting led by BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
As the party activists were demanding a harsher programme like hartal, Fakhrul advised them to first establish their control on the streets.
“Are you all ready to take to the streets? Nothing will happen if we can’t take a position on the streets. So, get ready to take to the streets to establish a government of people by ousting the fascist and authoritarian regime,” he said pointing at his party colleagues.
Fakhrul said police attacked a rally of BNP in Bhola without any provocation and sprayed bullets on the party leaders and activists, killing Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim and injuring many others.
Fakhrul said critically injured Bhola Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Noor Alam has been fighting for life in an ICU of a hospital as he sustained a bullet in his head.
“We the people of Bangladesh can’t sit idle when Awami forces--worse than the Pakistani occupation forces--use the state machinery and resort to killings, enforced disappearances and repressive acts. We must roar again recalling our old tradition and history and we have to establish control on the streets to topple the usurper regime,” he said.
Police fired at Bhola rally to silence dissent: BNP
BNP Vice-Chairman Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed on Monday alleged that police attacked their party’s rally in Bhola and opened fire killing a Swechchasebak Dal leader to silence the dissenting voices.
“Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim was shot dead by police forces in my district Bhola yesterday (Sunday) without any provocation. It amounts to homicide,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader alleged that police beat their party leaders and activists mercilessly and sprayed bullets on them when they were bringing out a procession after a meeting at their party office there.
Also read: BNP holds talks with People's League, Jatiya Dal to wage greater movement
“The attack was made to silence the dissenting voices. Such a killing has been carried out also to prevent the fearless people who are taking to the streets for the restoration of democracy and to create terror in their minds,” he observed.
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Garment Sramik Dal arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club.
As part of BNP’s countrywide demonstration programme protesting the load shedding and mismanagement in the power sector, the leaders and activists of the party gathered in front of their district party office in Bhola on Sunday morning.
At one stage, police obstructed them when they tried to stage demonstrations at Kalinath Roy Bazar around 11:30 am, triggering a clash. Later, police fired bullets and lobbed teargas shells that left Abdur Rahim dead and many other leaders and activists of the party injured.
Also read: ‘Mega’ corruption, plundering by govt behind loadshedding: BNP
Hafiz warned that no government can stay in power long by resorting to repression and firing bullets at common people.
He alleged that the Awami League government is only busy making money and securing its power. “They are least bothered about suffering, life and death of people. That’s why they want to cling to power by firing on innocent people.”
The BNP leader said there is now no alternative to holding a credible election in the country under a non-party neutral government to overcome the political crisis.
Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy alleged that police opened fire at their rally in Bhola at the behest of the government.
“The SP in Bhola would have been suspended while those who sprayed bullets would have been closed by the time had the government not instructed them to carry out the incident,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club arranged by the Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal protesting the killing of its leader Abdur Rahim in police firing.
He warned that their party will not sit idle if the government continues its repressive acts. “We’ll be more organised and take to the streets unitedly.”
Stating that police have no right to prevent people from exercising their constitutional rights to hold rallies and bring out processions, Gayeshwar said those who fired at the rally in Bhola would have to be accountable one day.
Vested group spreads propaganda over electricity-energy: Obaidul Quader
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said an identified group is carrying out propaganda and spreading confusion purposefully saying that the electricity and energy crisis will prolong in the country.
He urged the people not to be misled by the motivated propaganda which are being carried out by those who want to see failures of the country, not its development and who are patrons of communal ill-forces.
The minister made the call while briefing reporters at his ministry’s office, said a PID handout.
He said the world's energy supply chain has become unstable due to the Russia-Ukraine war during the global economic recovery from coronavirus pandemic, which led to an abnormal rise in fuel prices in the international market.
Quader, also the general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, said more than 90 per cent of the countries across the world depend on imports for primary energy. As an energy importer, this situation has had a negative impact on Bangladesh as well, he said.
Now almost all countries of the world including Europe and America are facing the energy crisis and they have drastically reduced the consumption of electricity and fuel in a bid to tackle the situation, he said.
The minister said the government of Bangladesh has taken various preemptive measures to face the negative impacts caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, resultant economic sanctions, as well as price hike of fuel, gas and fertilizers in the international market.
He said the high inflation rate in the developed world indicates the severity of the global economic crisis.
June last year, the inflation rate was 9.1pc in the United States, while 9.4pc in the United Kingdom, 8.9pc in Germany, 15.9pc in Russia, 78.6pc in Turkey, 9.4pc in the Netherlands, 39.9pc in Sri Lanka and 21.3pc in Pakistan, he noted.
But the inflation rate was 7.56pc in Bangladesh in June, said the minister, adding that many quarters are trying to mislead people by talking about only Bangladesh inflation.
“In Bangladesh, the situation remains relatively tolerable due to the precautionary measures taken by the Sheikh Hasina’s government,” he added.
BNP holds talks with People's League, Jatiya Dal to wage greater movement
BNP On Sunday sat with Bangladesh People's League and Jatiya Dal to forge national unity to wage a greater movement to oust the government and ensure that the next national election is held under a neutral administration.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with party standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan had separate meetings with the parties, components of the 20-party alliance, at BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office.
Rail crossings become death traps: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday urged the government to take steps to make the coiuntry's railways safe as the level crossings have become death traps.
“As if the railway crossings of the country have become death traps. Although travel through railways is considered safe across the world, it is becoming a matter of worry in Bangladesh,” he said.
In a statement, the Jatiya Party chief also bemoaned that the railways in Bangladesh have not been safe even after 50 years of its independence.
Also read: Establishing people’s voting rights crucial for democracy: GM Quader
Referring to media reports, he said about 82 per cent of the railway crossings in the country are unprotected. “All these unprotected level crossings have no guards and barriers.”
Besides, the Jatiya Party chairman said there is no end to negligence even though there are guards and barriers at 18 railway crossings.
“So, accidents happen every day and many people die every year. There is no one to see the negligence and mismanagement of the railways,” he observed.
Also read: EC praising merits of EVMs with ‘ulterior motive’: GM Quader
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said though an investigation committee is formed after every accident, the people of the country cannot know the probe report. “No one can even know what measures the government is taking to prevent accidents.”
He said such deaths on the railways cannot be accepted. “Railway accidents in modern times expose how far behind we are. It has become necessary to take prroper measures now to secure the railways of the country.”
Earlier on Friday, 11 people were killed and six others injured when a speeding express train rammed into the microbus carrying students on an excursion at a level crossing in Mirsharai upazila on Friday.
‘Mega’ corruption, plundering by govt behind loadshedding: BNP
BNP on Saturday alleged that the county’s people are going through suffering caused by frequent power outages due to ‘mega’ corruption and plundering by the government.
“Bangladesh has now the capacity to generate much more power than it needs. But why loadshedding are occurring now? The reason behind is mega corruption and theft,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a public rally, he alleged that thousands of crores of taka have been paid to 10 companies as capacity charges though they did not produce any power since the government signed such deals with quick-rental and other power plants.
Also read: BNP slams govt for anarchy on roads
Dhaka South City unit BNP arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the ongoing loadshedding, mismanagement in the energy sector and the hikes in fuel and gas prices.
Fakhrul said a fund was created taking surcharge from people for offshore gas exploration. “It’s alarming that the government has taken around 25,00 crores taka from that fund to buy gas (from abroad). “This is another trickery and robbery.”
He alleged that on the one hand, the ruling party leaders siphoned off thousands of crores of taka abroad in the name of electricity production, on the other hand, the Awami League-backed businessmen made huge money by importing LNG and LPG gas as fuel. “In this way, they are ruining the economy of the country.”
Also read: Fuel, forex reserves may run out after power crisis: Fakhrul
Referring to a media report the BNP leader said some public universities have started enrolling students before constructing their infrastructure. “It’s also alarming. You have seen the corruption in the acquisition of land for Chandpur University by the relatives of the Education Minister. Such corruption is going on everywhere.”
He said the ruling party leaders are involved in all sorts of theft, robbery and misdeeds. “Their only goal is to plunder money and destroy everything in the country. The government is confusing people through the myth of development.”
Fakhrul called upon the BNP leaders and activists to prepare for a one-point movement to ensure the fall of the government.
BNP slams govt for anarchy on roads
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the government has pushed the entire roads management of the country towards anarchy.
“Our Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader wearing a fancy suit nicely said that what Awami League was doing never happened in the past. But you have pushed the entire roads management towards anarchy, he said.
The BNP leader said hundreds of people are losing their lives in road accidents due to chaos on the roads. “We saw that our 11 students who were travelling in a microbus died as a train hit them yesterday (Friday). We can show numerous examples like this every day.”
Also read: Fuel, forex reserves may run out after power crisis: Fakhrul
He came up with the comments while speaking at a rally organised by Dhaka South city unit BNP in front of the National Press Club protesting the ongoing load-shedding, mismanagement in the energy sector and the hikes in fuel and gas prices.
Fakhrul accused the government of dashing the dream of the country’s people and the freedom fighters to have a democratic and prosperous Bangladesh.
He alleged that the current authoritarian government has destroyed democracy, the judiciary and the banking sector because of its theft, robbery and greed.
“There is a saying in Bengali literature that the kingdom is ruined by the fault of the king, but the people suffer". Sheikh Hasina's government is responsible for the sufferings we’re going through,” the BNP leader observed.
He called upon the BNP leaders and workers to take an oath for ousting the 'monstrous' 'fascist' government by launching a one-point demand.
Also read: Creating rumors now the main task of BNP leaders: AL
As a democratic party, Fakhrul said BNP has the responsibility to protect the county and its people from the misrule of the current despotic regime. “If we can form a government by winning the people's movement, we will certainly solve all the problems and establish this country as a truly people's state."
Creating rumors now the main task of BNP leaders: AL
Creating rumors is now the main task of BNP leaders, said Bangladesh Awami League in a post on its verified Facebook page.
The comment was posted in response to BNP's recent remarks over the state of country’s forex reserve amid the ongoing austerity measures to deal with global headwinds.
"The party is living on the oxygen of rumours," the Facebook post reads.
Also read: Fuel, forex reserves may run out after power crisis: Fakhrul
The reserve of Bangladesh is now stable at $40 billion while BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the reserve is not more than $16 billion, AL said.
"He (Fakhrul) may have said this to reduce the gap of $40 billion with $2 billion billion during the BNP era. Mirza Fakhrul does politics based on rumors and lies," reads the post.
The AL said any sensible citizen of the country can never support these rumours.
On Friday, Fakhrul said the government has not more than $16 billion in usable forex reserves in the country.
Also read: BNP blames AL’s internal feud for Narail communal violence
“They are turning Bangladesh into a failed state. So, we can’t give Awami League any more time and chance. The more they stay in power, the faster the destruction of the country will accelerate,” the BNP leader said.
Fuel, forex reserves may run out after power crisis: Fakhrul
Accusing the Awami League government of ruining the country’s economy through widespread corruption and plundering, BNP on Friday warned that the foreign exchange reserves also may get depleted in the days to come after power and energy crisis.
“The bell of the government’s downfall has begun to toll. There’s a now crisis of power and then we’ll face the shortage of fuel oil. After that, you’ll see the reserves are running out,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, Fakhrul said the country’s people are going through immense sufferings since the prices of all essentials have skyrocketed.
“This government is destroying the economy of Bangladesh in a planned way. Their only purpose is to indulge in corruption and looting. So our now one-point demand is the resignation of the government,” the BNP leader said.
He urged the government to dissolve parliament and hand over power to a neutral caretaker government by stepping down, paving the way for holding a credible election under a reconstituted Election Commission.
Read:Power Outages: BNP announces 3-day protest programme
“Wake up as we have no more time in our hands. We must oust this fascist and corrupt regime,” the BNP leader said pointing at his party leaders and activists.
BNP’s Dhaka north city unit arranged the programme in protest against the 'unprecedented' load-shedding and the hikes in fuel and gas prices.
Fakhrul said Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal admitted seeking a $4.5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), though last week he denied it.
“This is how this government resorts to blatant lies and deceives and fools people. But they are empty inside. They’re making the country bankrupt by depleting the money resources,” he observed.
Narrating a frightening economic condition, he said the government has not more than $16 billion usable forex reserves in the country. “They are turning Bangladesh into a failed state. So, we can’t give Awami League any more time and chance. The more they stay in power, the faster the destruction of the country will accelerate,” the BNP leader said.
He also slammed his ruling party counterpart Obaidul Quader for his comment that there is no shortage of power and fuel oil in the country. “Why are you carrying out load-shedding for even 8 hours, if there is no shortage? Why are you rationing gas? Why are the experts talking about an ominous sign for Bangladesh?
The BNP secretary general alleged that the government has destroyed the energy sector of Bangladesh through corruption and plundering.
"People in cities are now experiencing power outages for two-three hours while people in the rural areas where electricity is needed for irrigation during Boro season are facing this problem for seven-eight hours. But this government looted thousands of crores of taka in the name of electricity generation and siphoned it abroad,” alleged Fakhrul.
Gano Forum: Hold next national polls under neutral govt
Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gano Forum on Thursday placed a host of proposals before the Election Commission including introduction of a neutral government during the general elections to make the polls a free, fair and participatory ones.
A team of Gano Forum, led by its executive chairman Mokabbir Khan, raised the proposals joining the EC’s dialogue at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area.
The party, in a written paper, said since independence, no election commission was able to gain the trust of all the political parties and the masses no matter how it was constituted.
It said the common people and most of the political parties didn’t get the atmosphere to participate spontaneously in the last two parliamentary elections held in 2014 and 2018. So, the elections were not credible to the world community, it added.
“The next parliamentary election is a big challenge for the incumbent commission,” said Gano Forum, who joined the last national election as an ally of BNP in 2018.
Also read: Be vocal against misdeeds: Dr Kamal urges people
About the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the national elections, the party said it already opposed the EVMs joining the EC’s talks in June last as the common people have little knowledge about the machines.
“We hope that the Election Commission will clarify its stance over EVMs soon before the nation, including every political party,” it said.
Gano Forum also proposed the Election Commission to remain fully independent in case of announcement of election schedules and execution of election rules.
The other proposals include formation of election area-based all-party monitoring teams during the polls, use of transparent ballot boxes in every booth and marking these with numbers, and announcement of the election results by only the Election Commission, not by the returning officers.
Tarikat Federation wants EVMs in 150 constituencies:
Bangladesh Tarikat Federation on Thursday proposed the national election to be held in three phases and the use of EVMs in 150 constituencies in the next general election.
A team of Tarikat Federation, led by its president Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary raised a number of proposals joining the EC’s talks.
Also read: All going pear-shaped for Gonoforum
The party also opined that the ceiling of election expenditure for an MP candidate should be raised to Tk 50 lakh instead of the existing Tk 25 lakh.
Tarikat Federation, an ally of ruling Awami League, suggested the commission holds the local body elections fully based on EVMs and ensure voting rights of expatriate Bangladeshis.